While many were celebrating the Fourth of July, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (aka Bad Bunny) lit the internet with the release of his latest music video, "Nuevayol." Directed by Renell Medrano, the bold narrative of the video serves as both a tribute to New York City and a powerful reflection on Latino and immigrant experience, perseverance, and cultural expression.
The Puerto Rican singer's latest video opens with a direct sample of Un Verano en Nueva York, the 1975 classic by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. The song, a landmark in salsa, captured the bittersweet reality of migration, Puerto Ricans leaving the island for summers in the city, chasing opportunity and carrying their culture with them.
By weaving that sample into the opening moments, Bad Bunny places today’s narrative within a broader historical arc. It’s not just a nod to the past, it’s a way of saying we’ve always been here, and we’re still shaping what’s next.
Latinos stand here too
"Nuevayol" feels like a love letter to the city and the people who’ve shaped it. One of its most powerful moments features the Puerto Rican flag flying atop the Statue of Liberty, a symbol long associated with freedom and new beginnings. For generations, that monument has welcomed immigrants from all over the world: Italians, Irish, Dominicans, Haitians, Jews, and more.
This time, the Puerto Rican flag waves there too, as a reminder that Latinos have been part of that story all along, deeply rooted and fully present. That statue stands for all of us.
The song, a standout from his album "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, is fueled by pride and a strong sense of unity across Latin American communities. Bad Bunny calls out Dominicans, Colombians, Venezuelans, and others, recognizing the wide range of cultures that have helped shape neighborhoods, cities, and generations.
It all leads to a closing message that ties the visual and sentiment together: “Juntos Somos Más Fuertes” (Together We Are Stronger), a reminder that solidarity across backgrounds is a lasting source of strength, especially in difficult times.
Trump's mock apology
Bad Bunny has never shied away from bold creative choices, and with “Nuevayol,” he leans into sharp satire. One scene features a faux radio broadcast with a voice resembling Donald Trump, offering a mock “apology” to immigrants.
"I made a mistake. I want to apologize to the immigrants in America. I mean the United States," it says. "I know America is the whole continent. I want to say that this country is nothing without the immigrants. This country is nothing without Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, Cubans."
It’s a sharp moment in video, timely in its irony, but yet very grounded in his genuine commentary of Latino contributions across the U.S., especially with the ongoing national conversations.
Benito has long made it clear that he won’t stay silent when it comes to the things that matter to him. In a recent Rolling Stone interview, he addressed the expectation that mainstream artists avoid controversy or speak only in carefully crafted statements. “People are used to artists getting big and mainstream and not expressing themselves about these things, or if they do, talking about it in a super careful way,” he said.
The artist continued, “But I'm going to talk, and whoever doesn't like it doesn't have to listen to me.” For Bad Bunny, creative freedom isn’t just about sound, it’s about saying what he wants to say.